Dr. Rita Worrell Tanksley, 66, wife of Thomas Tanksley, entered into Heaven on Wednesday, September 6, 2017.
Born at Montfort Jones Memorial Hospital in Kosciusko, MS on April 29, 1951 to John and Betty Worrell.
Graduating from Wingfield High School, she went on to Delta State for her Bachelor’s Degree and received her Master’s Degree from Florida International. In 1993, she earned her Doctorate Degree from Florida State University. In 2014, she retired from Mississippi State University as an Early Childhood Division Agent.
Growing up, her favorite thing to play was school. It was no surprise that she would grow up to become an excellent teacher and impact the lives of all her students. More than the love she had for teaching, Rita loved her family deeply. Her grandchildren were the light of her life.
She is preceded in death by three grandchildren, Ryan Jackson of Granitville, SC, Peyton and Paige Gary of Pensacola, FL, all of which she is now playing with in Heaven. In addition, she has three children, Shannon Hendrix of North Augusta, SC, Kelly Gary and her husband Matthew of Pensacola, FL and Cory Pepper and his wife Krystina of Rogers, AR. Her surviving grandchildren are Dylan Gary, Kolby Hendrix, Hayden Gary, Rylee Hendrix, Jayden Pepper, Carson Gary, Sydney Pepper and Lyla Rose Pepper. Additional surviving family members are great grandson, C.J. Anderson; brothers, Lewis Worrell and his wife Maggy of Valley, AL and Carlton Worrell and his wife Kim of Mobile, AL.
A celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, September 9th, 2017, at 11 o’clock at Culpepper Funeral Home Chapel in Kosciusko, MS with Brother Freeman Pierce and Brother Dick Hill officiating. Interment will follow in Salem Methodist Cemetery, Weir, MS.
The family will receive friends on Friday, September 8th, 2017 from 5 to 8 pm.
A special thank you to Angela Miller and Ruth Oredien for your loving care.

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